EB146.R6

Having considered the report on accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a global public health problem;

Reaffirming resolution WHA66.10 (2013), in which the Health Assembly decided, inter alia, to endorse WHO's global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, and decision WHA72(11) (2019), in which the Health Assembly requested the Director-General to propose updates to the appendices of the global action plan, resolution WHA70.12 (2017) on cancer prevention and control in the context of an integrated approach, resolution WHA69.2 (2016) on committing to implementation of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, and resolution WHA69.22 (2016), in which the Health Assembly adopted the global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, for the period 2016–2021;

Recalling the political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage entitled “Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world”, 3 including the commitment to further strengthen efforts to address noncommunicable diseases as part of universal health coverage, and the recognition that people's engagement, particularly of women and girls, families and communities, and the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders is one of the core components of health system governance, to fully empower all people in improving and protecting their own health;

Recalling also the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, 4 including the commitment to promote access to affordable diagnostics, screening, treatment and care, as well as vaccines that lower the risk of cancer, including cervical cancer, as part of the comprehensive approach to its prevention and control;

Recalling further decision EB144(2) (2019), in which the Executive Boardnoted that urgent action is needed to scale up implementation of proven cost-effective measures towards achieving the elimination of cervical cancer as a global public health problem, including vaccination against human papillomavirus, screening and treatment of pre-cancer, early detection and prompt treatment of early invasive cancers, and palliative care, which will require political commitment and greater international cooperation and support for equitable access, including strategies for resource mobilization;

Emphasizing that effective interventions for the prevention (including vaccination and screening), early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care in respect of cervical cancer support the realization of the indivisible goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Goal 1 (End poverty in all its forms everywhere), Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and Goal 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries);

Deeply concerned by the significant burden of mortality and morbidity from cervical cancer and the associated suffering and stigma experienced by women, families and communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and concerned by the disproportionate burden in remote and hard-to-reach areas, on marginalized communities or those in vulnerable situations, and on women and girls living with HIV, who are more likely to develop cervical cancer;

Recognizing the importance of a holistic health systems approach to cervical cancer prevention and control, integrating vaccination programmes, screening and treatment programmes, adolescent health services, HIV and sexual and reproductive health services, and communicable disease and noncommunicable disease health services, as well as the importance of inclusive and strategic national, regional and global partnerships that extend beyond the health sector;

Welcoming the prioritization of vaccination of girls against human papillomavirus as the most effective long-term intervention for reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer, and recognizing the critical importance of strengthening vaccine supply and access, including by improving affordability and reducing prices to facilitate the inclusion of the human papillomavirus vaccine in national immunization programmes;

Recognizing the urgent need to implement and scale up cervical cancer screening and treatment programmes to reduce incidence and mortality, and the urgent need to increase research and collaboration to develop cost-effective and innovative interventions for vaccination, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care in respect of cervical cancer, which could greatly increase the availability, affordability and accessibility of such interventions,